Japan urged to revoke ban on Indian poultry products

After declaring itself free from avian flu, the Indian Government has
asked Japan to revoke its ban on imports of Indian poultry products.

Japan had granted access to Indian poultry products in the second half of
2005, but had imposed a ban later with the spread of the avian
flu.

Officials of the Agricultural and Processed Foods Products' Export
Development Authority (Apeda) said that the Department of Animal Husbandry, has
recently written to the Japanese Government for resuming poultry imports.

"We are hopeful of re-entering the Japanese market soon," said Mr K S Money,
Chairman, Apeda.

In related news, a vaccine to prevent avian flu developed by a research
institute in India could be available for as little as 35 paise (less than one
cent) per dose.

Developed by the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory (HSADL) in this
central Indian city, it is the first vaccine against the spread of avian flu in
the country.